Notice of Proposed Class II Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and Gas Leases UTU88835 and UTU88838, San Juan County, Utah, 77352-77353 [2023-24719]

Download as PDF 77352 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 216 / Thursday, November 9, 2023 / Notices ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 potential would be closed to new Federal oil and gas leasing. The BLM further considered five additional alternatives but dismissed these alternatives from detailed analysis as explained in the Draft RMP Amendment/EIS. The State Director has identified Alternative B as the preferred alternative because it conserves big game high priority habitat while balancing other resource uses. Mitigation Across all action alternatives, the BLM considers potential mitigation in compliance with Council on Environmental Quality, Department of the Interior, and BLM guidance. Mitigation can help provide a conservation benefit to big game species when impacts from oil and gas development activity are not avoidable. Consistent with valid existing rights and applicable law, when oil and gas development results in habitat loss or degradation within big game high priority habitat, the BLM will require and ensure mitigation that provides a conservation benefit to the species, including accounting for any uncertainty associated with the effectiveness of such mitigation. The action alternatives call for the BLM to consider alternative locations for oil and gas operations that either avoid big game high priority habitat altogether, or, where avoidance is not feasible, minimize adverse impacts to the maximum extent possible. The action alternatives include surface density limitations, as well as a density trigger that would require the operator to address indirect impacts through compensatory mitigation. The action alternatives call for the BLM to include avoidance, minimization, and mitigation strategies in subsequent implementation-level NEPA analyses for proposed actions that may result in big game high priority habitat loss and degradation. Subsequent implementation-level mitigation could limit the duration and extent of development activities in big game high priority habitat through all phases of development by avoiding activities in high priority habitat, applying a surface density limitation, and mitigating impacts. Mitigation plans would address cumulative effects of oil and gas activities across a given landscape. The BLM may also require compensatory mitigation to offset disturbance or density limitation exceedances and direct and unavoidable adverse indirect impacts that result in the functional loss of habitat from oil VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:22 Nov 08, 2023 Jkt 262001 and gas development in big game high priority habitat. Direct impacts to big game occur from disturbance or habitat fragmentation during construction, drilling, and/or completion activities and habitat conversion to oil and gas facilities. Indirect impacts to big game occur over time from big game avoidance of disturbance and the cumulative functional habitat loss from fragmentation and modified habitat use as development density increases. Indirect impacts may be avoided or minimized through the application of alternative siting and operating requirements. The BLM, after coordination with CPW, will determine whether compensatory mitigation proposed by the operator is sufficient to protect big game high priority habitat from direct and unavoidable adverse indirect impacts. The BLM has the discretion to require an operator to modify surface operations to change or add specific mitigation measures when supported by scientific analysis and consistent with existing rights. Potential mitigation/conservation measures not already required as stipulations would be analyzed in a sitespecific NEPA document, and incorporated, as appropriate, as conditions of approval of the permit, plan of development, or other use authorization. In discussing surface use rights, 43 CFR 3101.1–2 states that the lessee has the right, ‘‘to use so much of the leased lands as is necessary to explore for, drill for, mine, extract, remove and dispose of all the leased resource.’’ However, lessees are subject to lease stipulations, nondiscretionary statutes, and as identified in 43 CFR 3101.1–2, ‘‘such reasonable measures as may be required by the authorized officer to minimize adverse impacts to other resource values, land uses or users not addressed in the lease stipulations at the time operations are proposed.’’ Schedule for the Decision-Making Process The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public participation consistent with the NEPA and land use planning processes, including a 30-day public protest period and a 60-day Governor’s consistency review on the Proposed RMP. The Proposed RMP Amendment/Final EIS is anticipated to be available for public protest starting August 2024, with an Approved RMP and Record of Decision in November 2024. The BLM will be holding public meetings on the Draft RMP Amendment/EIS. The specific date(s) and location(s) of these meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance PO 00000 Frm 00096 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 through local media and the ePlanning project page (see ADDRESSES). The BLM will continue to consult with Indian Tribal Nations on a government-to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175, BLM Manual 1780, and other Departmental policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and potential impacts to cultural resources, will be given due consideration. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. (Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2) Douglas J. Vilsack, State Director. [FR Doc. 2023–24552 Filed 11–8–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4331–16–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [BLM_UT_FRN_MO4500170480] Notice of Proposed Class II Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and Gas Leases UTU88835 and UTU88838, San Juan County, Utah Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In accordance with the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, ST Oil Company, LLC, Moore Energy LLC, Shoreline Company LLC, and Leaf River Resources LLC, filed a timely petition for reinstatement of oil and gas leases UTU88835 and UTU88838 for lands in San Juan County, Utah. The petition was accompanied by all required rentals and royalties accruing from April 1, 2018, the date of termination. No leases were issued that affect these lands. The Bureau of Land Management proposes to reinstate these leases. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Wadman, Branch Chief, Fluid Minerals, Utah State Office, Bureau of Land Management, 440 West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84101, phone: 801–539–4052, email: awadman@blm.gov. Individuals in the SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\09NON1.SGM 09NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 216 / Thursday, November 9, 2023 / Notices United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services offered within their country to make international calls to the point-ofcontact in the United States. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. The lessees have agreed to the new lease terms: • Original term and additional conditions of the lease; • Increased rental of $20 per acre; • Increased royalty of 20-2⁄3 percent; • $151 cost of publishing this Notice; and • $500 cost of administrative fee. The leases include the following described lands in San Juan County, Utah: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: UTU–88835 Salt Lake Meridian, Utah T. 30 S., R. 23 E., Secs. 24 and 25; Sec. 26, lots 1 thru 4, W1⁄2NE1⁄4, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, and W1⁄2SE1⁄4; Sec. 35, lots 1 thru 4, W1⁄2NE1⁄4, and W1⁄2SE1⁄4. The area described contains 2007.56 acres, according to the official plats of the surveys of the said land, on file with the BLM. UTU–88838 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Salt Lake Meridian, Utah T. 30 S., R. 24 E., Sec. 30; Sec. 31, lots 1 and 2, and S1⁄2SE1⁄4. The areas described aggregate 797.38 acres, according to the official plat of the survey of the said lands, on file with the BLM. The lessees have met all the requirements for reinstatement of the leases per Section 31(d) and (e) of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 as Amended. The BLM is proposing to reinstate the leases 30 days following publication of this notice, with the effective date of April 1, 2018, subject to the increased rental and royalty rates cited above. Authority: 43 CFR 3108.2–3. Gregory Sheehan, BLM Utah State Director. [FR Doc. 2023–24719 Filed 11–8–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4331–25–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:22 Nov 08, 2023 Jkt 262001 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [BLM_CO_FRN_MO4500174493] Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment and Environmental Impact Statement for the Gunnison SageGrouse (Centrocercus minimus), Colorado and Utah Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment and draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Gunnison Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus minimus) and by this notice is providing information announcing the opening of the comment period on the draft RMP amendment/ EIS and is announcing the comment period on the BLM’s proposed areas of critical environmental concern (ACECs). DATES: This notice announces the opening of a 90-day comment period for the draft RMP amendment/EIS beginning with the date following the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) publication of its Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register. The EPA usually publishes its NOAs on Fridays. To afford the BLM the opportunity to consider comments in the proposed RMP amendment/final EIS, please ensure your comments are received prior to the close of the 90-day comment period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. In addition, this notice also announces the opening of a 60-day comment period for ACECs. The BLM must receive your ACEC-related comments by January 8, 2024. ADDRESSES: The draft RMP amendment/ EIS is available for review on the BLM ePlanning project website at https:// eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/ project/2019031/510. Written comments related to the Gunnison Sage-Grouse RMP amendment may be submitted by any of the following methods: • Website: electronically via the BLM ePlanning website at https:// eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/ project/2019031/510. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00097 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 77353 • Mail: BLM Southwest District Office, ATTN: GUSG RMPA, 2465 South Townsend Ave., Montrose, CO 81401. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at https:// eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/ project/2019031/510 and at the Grand Junction, Uncompahgre, Tres Rios, Gunnison, San Luis Valley, Moab, and Monticello Field Offices. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Phillips, Project Manager, telephone 970–240–5381; BLM Southwest District Office, 2465 South Townsend Ave., Montrose, CO 81401; email BLM_CO_ GUSG_RMPA@blm.gov. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services for contacting Ms. Phillips. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services offered within their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States. This document provides notice that the BLM Colorado and Utah State Directors have prepared a draft RMP amendment/EIS, provides information announcing the opening of the comment period on the draft RMP amendment/EIS, and is announcing the comment period on the BLM’s proposed ACECs. The RMP amendment is being considered to allow the BLM to evaluate protections for Gunnison sage-grouse consistent with the latest measures in the recently completed U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recovery plan, which would require amending the following existing plans: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Colorado • Canyons of the Ancients National Monument RMP (2010) • Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area RMP (2017) • Grand Junction Field Office RMP (2015) • Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area RMP (2004) • Gunnison Resource Area RMP (1993) • McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area RMP (2004) • San Luis Resource Area RMP (1991) • Tres Rios Field Office RMP (2015) • Uncompahgre Field Office RMP (2020) Utah • Moab Field Office RMP (2008) • Monticello Field Office RMP (2008) The planning area is located in portions of 19 Colorado counties: Alamosa, Archuleta, Conejos, Costilla, E:\FR\FM\09NON1.SGM 09NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 216 (Thursday, November 9, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77352-77353]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24719]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BLM_UT_FRN_MO4500170480]


Notice of Proposed Class II Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and 
Gas Leases UTU88835 and UTU88838, San Juan County, Utah

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as 
amended, ST Oil Company, LLC, Moore Energy LLC, Shoreline Company LLC, 
and Leaf River Resources LLC, filed a timely petition for reinstatement 
of oil and gas leases UTU88835 and UTU88838 for lands in San Juan 
County, Utah. The petition was accompanied by all required rentals and 
royalties accruing from April 1, 2018, the date of termination. No 
leases were issued that affect these lands. The Bureau of Land 
Management proposes to reinstate these leases.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Wadman, Branch Chief, Fluid 
Minerals, Utah State Office, Bureau of Land Management, 440 West 200 
South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84101, phone: 801-539-4052, 
email: [email protected]. Individuals in the

[[Page 77353]]

United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a 
speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access 
telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United 
States should use the relay services offered within their country to 
make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States. 
The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message 
or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during 
normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The lessees have agreed to the new lease 
terms:
     Original term and additional conditions of the lease;
     Increased rental of $20 per acre;
     Increased royalty of 20-\2/3\ percent;
     $151 cost of publishing this Notice; and
     $500 cost of administrative fee.
    The leases include the following described lands in San Juan 
County, Utah:

UTU-88835

Salt Lake Meridian, Utah

T. 30 S., R. 23 E.,
    Secs. 24 and 25;
    Sec. 26, lots 1 thru 4, W\1/2\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, and W\1/
2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 35, lots 1 thru 4, W\1/2\NE\1/4\, and W\1/2\SE\1/4\.

    The area described contains 2007.56 acres, according to the 
official plats of the surveys of the said land, on file with the BLM.

UTU-88838

Salt Lake Meridian, Utah

T. 30 S., R. 24 E.,
    Sec. 30;
    Sec. 31, lots 1 and 2, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\.

    The areas described aggregate 797.38 acres, according to the 
official plat of the survey of the said lands, on file with the BLM.
    The lessees have met all the requirements for reinstatement of the 
leases per Section 31(d) and (e) of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 as 
Amended. The BLM is proposing to reinstate the leases 30 days following 
publication of this notice, with the effective date of April 1, 2018, 
subject to the increased rental and royalty rates cited above.
    Authority: 43 CFR 3108.2-3.

Gregory Sheehan,
BLM Utah State Director.
[FR Doc. 2023-24719 Filed 11-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-25-P
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